Fells Point residents call on city to address public defecation

A Fells Point community wants the city's attention, pointing to a video of a man caught in the act of using a public alley to take care of his private business.

The video, taken Friday just after 11 a.m. in an alley off Broadway in Upper Fells Point, shows a man looking perfectly comfortable picking his spot and dropping his pants. All of what comes next is recorded.

The video shows one incident, but based on what can be seen in person, it was not isolated. On Monday, evidence was left behind that the alley is being used as an open sewer.

"It's a health hazard, it's disgusting," said Victor Corbin, president of the community association. "It's like a Third World country. It shouldn't be like that and we shouldn't accept it as a community and a city."

Corbin sent the video to City Hall on Monday, saying the community is fed up with the problem of vagrancy, loitering and conduct that leaves litter and filth. Community members said they also have video of a woman going to the bathroom, drug activity and an act of prostitution.

"That was a terrible photo. You should get the ones of people who walk by people at outdoor restaurants and spit in their food. The situation is out of control," said Baltimore City Councilman Jim Kraft, a Democrat whose constituents make up the Upper Fells Point area.

In reaction to the problem, Kraft helped put together three subcommittees organized to come up with solutions and strategies. They met Tuesday night to discuss options like public toilets and ways to better address and enforce trespassing laws. The eventual plan is to take specific demands to the city.

"How many police officers do we want? What do we want them to do in terms of enforcement?" Kraft questioned.

A police officer at the meeting said police have stepped up enforcement and put a foot patrol officer on Broadway for the past two months. 11 News found officers writing citations just minutes before the meeting.

Corbin said the problem has worsened in the past year, pointing to a drug treatment clinic up the street and a soup kitchen nearby. He said both seem to be magnets for the wrong kind of behavior.

"I think we have gotten to the point where we are saturated with these types of services and when the (Charm City) Circulator came in, I think that also helped bring people into the neighborhood that normally may not have been here. I actually love the Circulator. I use it frequently but that is something I notice when I have ridden it," Corbin said.

"We want to get the government agencies to come in with a program for these people who apparently have a problem, or else they wouldn't be on the street," said community member Wayne Marcinko.

"The city can enforce the laws that are on the books. If the city gets sanitation, housing, police, health -- if they all just come in and enforce the laws that are on the books, we can clean this up," Kraft said.

The community meetings started about two months ago. The next one is scheduled for Oct. 29.

Kraft said he sent a letter directly to Police Commissioner Anthony Batts asking for help. Two weeks ago, Batts promised a strategy to reclaim the city's public spaces.

"Are they homeless? Are they drug addicted? Do they have mental health concerns? We want to identify each of them and figure (out) a better strategy for everyone," said Olivia Farrow, director of the Mayor's Office of Human Services.

One city official is considering installing public toilets similar to something used in Portland called the Portland Loo.

A 49-year-old man has been charged in the incident in the video.

WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Kai Reed contributed to this report.

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